For patients who are living with HIV, health literacy and health numeracy are found to be associated with improved health outcomes. However, cognitive problems occur frequently in adults with HIV, and cognitive functioning may compound the issues surrounding health literacy and health numeracy. Health numeracy is particularly relevant for individuals with HIV, in that much of their health information is quantitative i.e., the number of pills and times when they are taken, CD4+ lymphocyte count, viral load etc.

The relationships between health numeracy, health literacy, and cognition with regards to health outcomes have yet to be fully understood. Examining these relationships and the potential influences they have on health care decisions will help inform future interventions in the promotion of health and wellness in populations living with HIV.Specifically, Gakumo hopes that the findings from this pilot study will inform the development and tailoring of a health literacy/numeracy intervention to improve HIV treatment adherence.

For more information about the project, please contact Dr. Gakumo at cagakumo@uab.edu